In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Oyinkan Braithwaite’s Cursed Daughters is a brilliantly drawn novel about three women and their familial bonds.
The New York Times wrote of the book:
“A sweeping and sobering take on romantic fatalism . . . Braithwaite’s prose is lush and spooky. . . . Our three female protagonists are rich, full characters. We go deep into their worlds as they struggle to reconcile their love for their family and culture with their desire to be free of the curse. It’s fascinating to watch them bob and weave.”
In her own words, here is Oyinkan Braithwaite’s Book Notes music playlist for her novel Cursed Daughters:
Cursed Daughters is a story that begins in the mid-’90s in Nigeria and ends in present-day Nigeria, and music was one of the tools I used to anchor the characters in their different eras. In the ’90s, many young Nigerians were steeped in American R&B—those songs filled parties, clubs and radio airwaves. But today, in 2025, Afrobeats has become a global force, and is heavily consumed by Nigerians. I wanted that evolution to be reflected in the novel, and so I was quite intentional with the songs I included in the novel.
This playlist reaches a little further — I have selected some songs mentioned in the book, and added songs that capture the emotional landscape and atmosphere of certain moments.
1. Swim – Titilope Shonuga – This piece is part poem, part song. It is a coming of age piece, it is about the power and the enduring power/survival of women. The first time I listened to this, it stirred something within me and I played it over and over and over. And eventually, I became convinced that I had to write about water.
2. Back & Forth – Aaliyah – This song instantly takes me back to another time and place. Aaliyah’s sultry vocals capture so much of the essence of the ’90s for me, so when I wanted to include a track from that era, she was the obvious choice.
3. No Water – Libianca – There’s a line in the chorus of this song — “And if you’re searching for me; please don’t worry; just go down on your knees; keep praying for me.” That line, and really the song as a whole, captures a sentiment I believe one of my protagonists would have expressed, if she had been in a place where she could articulate her feelings.
4. Doesn’t Really Matter – Janet Jackson – When I listen to this song, I’m taken back to my year in boarding school in Nigeria — to the small socials we held and the intricate dance steps we would learn. In my mind’s eye, I can see my childhood best friend dancing. So, of course it made its way into the novel.
5. Coolu Temper – Lagbaja – I have always loved Lagbaja’s music. I needed a song that would feel slightly unexpected coming from a Gen Z girl, but instantly familiar to someone who grew up in the 90s — and Coolu Temper fit perfectly. Coolu Temper is upbeat, and its instrumentals are a pure delight. The song feels playful, yet the message it carries is surprisingly weighty.
6. Chasing Amy – Teamarr – This song is the background of a lovemaking scene in Cursed Daughters. And it is a song I fell for instantly. In the song, the singer lists her flaws, one after the other. She wants them to know the worst of her before they choose to commit — a gesture of self-protection. The women in Cursed Daughters would understand and empathise with that instinct.
7. Parte after Parte – Bigtril – Cursed Daughters contains many many parties within its pages — and Nigerians famously love to party— so this song felt like the perfect addition to the playlist. It’s incredibly catchy, though I’ll admit, for some odd reason, I used to stumble over the chorus.
8. Love Potion – DJ Neptune ft Adekunle Gold – My protagonist, Monife falls in love with a boy she calls Golden Boy, and he loves her in return. Their romance is all-consuming, and she wants nothing more than a perfect, storybook ending, but fate has something else in store for her. This song perfectly captures Monife and Golden Boy’s desires.
8. People – Libianca – This song is the perfect anthem for being surrounded by people and still feeling completely alone. The women in Cursed Daughters try to support one another as best they can, yet the three protagonists still carry their pain privately. Each of them must decide how to move forward — toward healing, or away from it.
9. Hello, Hi – Little Simz – I loved this song the moment I heard it, and the timing was perfect for the book. Did it move the plot forward in any particular way? No. But I had to include it. Hello, Hi is a 2025 release, and the novel concludes in 2025, so it was useful in bringing the playlist into the present. It’s also an unapologetically confident song — the kind of energy I believe Eniiyi would embrace wholeheartedly.
10. Thunder Fire You – Ric Hassani – In this song, the narrator is essentially cursing his ex. It felt like an especially fitting addition to a Cursed Daughters playlist. I didn’t have to overthink this one.
11. Remember – R3my Jay – This is a tender, soulful song about memory and loss.There are moments in this story where the characters experience loss and this song felt like the right companion for those moments.
12. Ayanfe – Teledalase – This song opens with the line “Mo ni ífẹ́ rẹ̀ nítọ́ọ̀tọ́” — “I truly love you.” The moment I heard it, I knew it belonged on my playlist. One of my characters is named Monife, which echoes the first three words of that opening line, so it immediately felt personal.
Ayanfe is a poignant love ballad. The narrator pledges herself completely to her beloved – she declares that she belongs to her lover and will go where her lover goes; even their death will be a shared death. I also love that the song is sung wholly in Yoruba – though I struggled to follow. But music has a way of transcending the limits of our understanding and creating connection regardless.
also at Largehearted Boy:
Oyinkan Braithwaite’s playlist for her novel My Sister, the Serial Killer
OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE is the author of My Sister, the Serial Killer. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria and raised there and in the UK. She currently lives in London with her family.